Wrapped package and method and means for forming the same



- 1935. G. K. GEERLINGS 2,023,386

WRAPPED PACKAGE AND METHOD AND MEANS-FOR FORMING THE SAME Filed April 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1*"? as n 1 N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec.3, 1935; EER N 2,023,386

WRAPPED PACKAGE AND METHOD AND MEANS FOR FORMING THE SAME Filed April 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l3 H612 I H15 F/G.15 H614 ATTORN E Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRAPPED PACKAGE AND METHOD AND MEANS FOR FORMING THE SAME 7 Claims.

My invention relates to wrapped packages and to methods and means for producing the same.

My invention is particularly adapted for forming packages, such as those used in the distribution and sale of cigarettes, tobacco and the like,

but is also applicable to the formation and wrapping of other styles and sizes of packages and it is, of course, immaterial whether the contents of the packages are tobacco, food stuffs, confection- 10 ery or .any other type of goods capable of being packaged. However, for the purposes of illustration and explanation, my invention is hereafter shown and described as applied to cigarette packages, but it should be understood that I do not intend my invention to be limited by the preferred forms and arrangements thereof hereinafter set forth by way of illustration.

At thepresent time cigarette packages comprise an inner wrapper, formed of a composite sheet having white paper on the inner side and metal foil on the outer side thereof. The inner wrapped package is then wrapped in an outer wrapper or cover member extending about the faces and sides of the package and folded over at the bottom thereof. In some instances a further wrapping of transparent, moisture proof material is applied about the entire package.

The purpose of the metal foil of the inner wrapper is to exclude moisture and keep the contents of the package fresh. However, when an outer covering of transparent moisture proof material is used, the metal foil wrapper is unnecessary for preservative or moisture-proofing purposes. In view thereof, the metal foil, which constitutes a substantial item in the cost of the package, could be omitted without detriment to the package contents. On the other hand, the public is accustomed to buying cigarettes and tobacco, as well as many other articles, in packages having a metal foil wrapping, and for this reason packages in which the metal foil is omitted altogether might not have the same sales appeal as those now in Many packages have the further disadvantage that they are not easily opened. This is particu-' larly true of cigarette packages, which at present are so formed that a plurality of layers of mate-- rial are interfolded or overlapped at the top -of the package. Ordinarily, cigarette packages are' package, but because of the interfolded formation of the various layers it is necessary to remove one layer after another until the ends of the cigarettes are exposed. Even then it is. difllcult to remove 55 the first few cigarettes without crushing or mutiopened by tearing off acorner of the top of the lating the'cigarette taken from the package, or other cigarettes adjacent thereto. Moreover, the successive layers of material used in forming the package are often applied by wrapping or folding the material about the package contents in 5 different directions. For example, one layer of material may extend about the sides and faces of the package and be interfolded at the top and bottom-thereof, and another layer may be folded about one face, the bottom and the opposite face 1, and interfolded or overlapped at the top and sides of the package, but not at the bottom thereof. It

- is therefore necessary to employ different types of wrapping machines for applying each layer of the wrapper and it is impossible to apply the two 1;, or three layers of wrapping material. simultaneously, or to use a composite wrapper made up of the desired layers of material formed into a single wrapper.

In accordance with my invention these difii- 20 culties and disadvantages inherent in wrapped packages, and the methods and means now used for forming the same, are overcome and a package is provided which is simple and easy to produce with a minimum expense for the wrapping 25 materials and operations. At the same time the package produced may be formed to present the same appearance as the present types of packages; also it is readily opened so as to permit easy access to the contents thereof, to facilitate their 30 removal.

While the packages and wrappers used for producing the same, in accordance with my invention may, take a wide variety of forms, I prefer to employ a wrapper comprising a sheet of material 35 having a piece of flexible material carried thereby and extending beyond one edge of the sheet. In order to produce packages having the familiar metal foil covering at the top of the package, I ordinarily use a piece of the usual paper-metal 40 foil material as the flexible material secured to the sheet and extending beyond an edge of the main-portion of the wrapper. With this arrangement the flexible material when folded over the top of the package presents the same appearance as the inner wrapper of paper-metal foil now used on cigarette'packages, but it is only necessary to employ about one-third to one-quarter of the amount of the paper-metal foil material now required. In this way I effect a very material sav- 60 ing in the cost of the material used in forming the package, without altering the appearance of the packa e itself. I

This wrapper is applied to the package contents with the flexible material extending across the top of the package. A wrapper of this type may be folded about the faces and sides of the package contents with the edges thereof folded over at the top and bottom of the package, as in the case of the paper-metal-foil sheet now in use on cigarette packages. However, I consider it of advantage to form the sheet so that it may be folded over one face, the bottom, the opposite face and the top of the package, with the edges of the sheet overlapping at the sides of the package and the ends of the sheet either folded together at the top of the package or overlapping at a point on the face of. the package just below the top thereof. In the latter case, the top and bottom of the package each present a smooth surface free from folds, and when opened by tearing an overlapping end upwardly, a portion of the side of the cigarettes or other contents of the package, as well as the ends thereof, may be exposed so that the cigarettes can be grasped easily to remove the same.

With either of the foregoing types of wrappers I may use a sheet of material for the main portion of the wrapper which is provided with a cut-out portion similar to that shown and described in my co-pending application Serial Number 660,833, filed March 15, 1933, or I may position the main portion of the wrapper below the top of the package so as to obtain the benefit of the invention set forth in said co-pending application.

When the cover members are formed so that they can be folded lengthwise about the front, bottom, back and top of the package, I may use wrapping machines of the type now employed for applying the usual transparent moisture proof material to cigarette packages, and if desired the wrapping and moisture proof material may be applied either in one operation, as separate superimposed layers, or they may be formed into a single composite sheet embodying the desired layers of material and applied in a single operation. While the same saving in the wrapping operations may be obtained when using a composite or laminated wrapper and folding the same laterally about the package contents, that is, about the faces and sides of the contents with the edges of the wrapper folded together at the top and bottom thereof, I prefer to fold the wrappers lengthwise as described above in order that the resulting package will be free from interfolded parts adjacent the top and bottom of the package.

I have also found that packages are more readily opened when tearing lines are formed in one or more layers of the material, and arranged to direct the line of tear in opening the package so as to expose a portion of the sides as well as the ends of the cigarettes, or other contents of the package. I therefore prefer to provide tearing lines such as cuts, perforations or scoring on the wrapper in such positions that when applied to the package the lines will be located on either side of the center of the package near the top thereof. When applied to cigarette packages, the tearing lines are preferably positioned adjacent to the revenue stamp.

While the provision of a tearing line in accordance with my invention is of particular advantage when applied to wrappers embodying other features of my invention, I may also apply such lines to package wrappers of the type at present in use with much the same advantage.

' One of the objects of my invention is to overcome disadvantages and objections inherent in wrapped packages and particularly cigarette packages, and to provide methods and means for producing wrapped packages which effect a substantial saving over those now in use,

Another object of my invention is to produce a wrapped package which is inexpensive to form.

Another object of my invention is to preserve the appearance of. the present type of wrapped packages used for cigarettes, while effecting considerable saving in the cost of producing the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wrapper for use in forming wrapped packages 10 having a piece of flexible material extending beyond an edge thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wrapper and method of applying the same which avoids the formation of a plurality of interfolded 15 layers on the top of the package.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wrapper and method of. applying the same whereby any desired number of layers of wrapping material may be applied simultaneously in the form 20 of a plurality of separate sheets, or as a single composite sheet of material.

A further object of my invention is to provide a package and wrapper for forming the same, capable of being torn to expose the ends of the :35 cigarettes, or other contents of the package, and a portion of the sides thereof adjacent to the ends.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wrapped package and means for forming the 30 same, having tearing lines formed thereon and arranged to facilitate removal of a portion of the top and a portion of the face and sides of the package adjacent the top thereof.

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the accompanying figure of the drawings illustrating typical embodiments of my invention as applied to cigarette packages. 40

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one type of package wrapper embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2'. of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic illustrations of 45 the methods of applying wrappers embodying my invention to the package contents.

Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 are perspectives showing one form of package embodying my invention and the method of forming and opening the same. 50

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative form of applying a wrapper embodying my invention to the package contents.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a laminated wrapper embodying my invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Il--Il of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of an alternative form of wrapper embodying my invention.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 60 I3l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective of a package embodying my invention having a wrapper of the type illustrated in Fig. 12 applied thereto.

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are plan views of further 65 alternative forms of my invention.

Fig. 18 is a perspectiveof a package embodying my invention having a wrapper of the type shown in Fig. 17 applied thereto.

Figs. 19 and 20 are plan views of further alternative forms of wrappers embodying my invention.

Fig. 21 is a perspective of a package embodying my invention having a wrapper of the form shown in Fig. 20 applied thereto.

Figs. 22 and 23 are plan views of additional forms of wrappers embodying .my invention, and

Fig. 24 is a perspective of a package embodying my invention having a wrapper of the form shown in Fig. 23 applied thereto.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1-7 inclusive, 1 have shown a wrapper adapted for forming cigarette packages, in which there is a rectangular sheet of material 2 which constitutes the main portion of the package wrapper, and which may be formed of heavy paper, light card-board or other suitable material. The sheet 2 is provided with a piece of. flexible material 4 of smaller area than the sheet 2 and extending beyond the end 6 thereof. The material 4 overlaps a relatively small portion of the sheet and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by glueing, stitching or otherwise. The entire overlapping area of the material 4 may be secured to the sheet 2, if desired, but I prefer to secure the material to the sheet over only a portion of the overlapping area, for example, by means of a line of adhesive shown at 8 on Figs. 1 and 2. The material 4 is then movable with respect to the end 6 of the sheet 2 so that when applied to the package contents as hereinafter described, the finished package has the appearance of being formed of two separate layers of wrapping material.

The flexible material 4 preferably-is composite, paper-metal foil wrapping material, such as that commonly used as the inner wrapper for cigarette packages at the present time, although any other suitable material, such as light paper, trans-" parent moisture proof material, or metal foil alone, may be used. When using the composite paper-metal foil material I secure the metal foil side of the material to the inner face of the sheet 2, in order that the finished package will have the metalfoil exposed, and the paper surface of the material will be in contact with the package contents.

The sheet of material 2 employed in forming the wrapper illustrated in Fig. l is of substantially the same size and shape as that of the outer printed layer of wrapping material usually provided in cigarette packages. However, since the flexible material only need extend over the top of the package, it is only necessary to use about one-fourth, or less, of the amount of the flexible material required to wrap the entire contents-of the package. The cost of the wrapper therefore is much less than that of twoseparate layers of wrapping material, one of which is relatively expensive and completely envelops the contents of the package. described above possesses the advantages inherent in the use of a heavy paper wrapper, which retains the original package shape even when a portion, or all of the contents, is removed therefrom.

In applying a wrapper of the type illustrated in Fig. l to cigarettes, for example, I may fold the wrapper in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. For'this purpose the end ID of the flexible material is positioned on one face of a group of cigarettes to be wrapped, near the upper end thereof, and is folded over the upper ends of the cigarettes, downward over the opposite face thereof, over the lower ends of the cigarettes and upward over the front face thereof. The end l2 of the wrapper is then brought into overlapping relation with the end H) of the flexible material near the top of the package and on one face thereof.

The wrapper is wider than the package to be At the same time the wrapper wardly over the sides of the package and into 5 overlapping relations as illustrated at It! in Fig. 5. These edges may then besecured in place by adhesive material. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the bottom of the package thus formed. presents a smooth, continuous surface free from interfolded parts. The bottom of the package thus serves to retain the tobacco in the cigarettes so that they remain well packed and in good con dition during shipping and handling of the packages. The corners of the package are firmly 16 formed and since the portions l4 of the wrapper are turned upward at the bottom of the package, they serve to prevent the escape of any tobacco from the package in the event loose grains thereof should be present.

At the top of the package I fold the edges l6 of the wrapper inwardly before folding the projecting portions of the wrapper at the top of the package. In this way triangular tabs 20 are formed which may be folded inwardly onto the 25 top of the package as illustrated in Fig. 6, or folded outwardly and downwardly against the sides of the package as shown in Fig. 8.-

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated an alternative method of applying a wrapper of the type shown 30 in Fig. 1, wherein the end I! of the wrapper is first positioned on one face of the package contents near the top thereof, and the wrapper folded downwardly over that face, then over the lower ends of the cigarettes, and upwardly on the opposite face of the package contents. At the top of the package the flexible material is folded over the upper ends of the cigarettes, bringing the end I0 thereof into overlapping relation with the end l2 of the main portion of the wrapper. The final step of this operation is shown in Fig. 5, which also illustrates the manner of folding the edges l6 of the wrapper into overlapping relation on the sides of the package.

In this method of folding, as in that shown in 45 Fig. 3, the tabs 20 may be folded inwardly as in Fig. 6, or downwardly as in Fig. 8. In each instance the flexible material 4 extending across the top of the package presents a single thickness of material, free from interfolded parts, and 50 having a tab 20 at the corner thereof, which may be easily grasped to open the package. In opening the package only one layer of the flexible material is torn, and I thereby avoid the dimculties in securing a firm hold on the interfolded 5 edges at the top of the package which is en-' countered in packages having the edges of the wrapper interfolded at the top thereof.

The presence of interfolded or creased portions of a wrapper in engagement with the ends 30 of cigarettes in a cigarette package tends to cause the tobacco to become loose and fall out of the cigarettes because of the uneven surface engaged thereby. The loose grains of tobacco often filter through the folds of the wrapper and 65 are held by the outer transparent wrapper, rendering the package unsightly and giving evidence that the cigarettes in the package are not well packed. When the wrapper is folded about the cigarettes as described above the portions of -7 0 the wrapper in engagement with the ends of the cigarettes are free from folds and creases,

ends of the cigarettes so that the package may be easily opened. On the other hand the top and bottom of the package are so formed that even though some grains of tobacco should become loose in the package, they can not shake out into the outer transparent wrapper or into the user's pocket.

By positioning the end l2 of the main portion of the wrapper 2 a short distance below the top of the package; the removal of the flexible material by means of a tab 20, exposes ends of the cigarettes and a portion of the sides thereof adjacent the ends, as shown in Fig. '7. The cigarettes, therefore, are easily available and may be grasped to remove the same from the package without mutilating the cigarette removed or others remaining in the package. This feature of my invention is desirable but is not essential in obtaining advantages inherent inthe use of the type of wrapper illustrated in Fig. 1. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the end l2 of the wrapper may extend all the way up to the top of the package, so that the flexible material is exposed only across the top thereof. However, even with this construction the package top presents only a single smooth layer of the flexible material and the tearing tab 20 is formed so that a portion of the top of the package may be readily removed to expose the ends of the cigarettes.

While it is not essential to my invention, I prefer to provide the wrapper of Fig. 1 with tearing lines 22, which may be cuts, perforations, scoring, or the like, intersecting the edge ID of the flexible material and located on either side of the center of said edge. When the wrapper is used in forming cigarette packages, the tearing lines 22 are located adjacent the revenue stamp 24, as shown in Fig. 6, and preferably are positioned so as to be partially covered by the revenue stamp. The tearing lines thus insure the removal of a predetermined area of the package top, and, as shown in Fig. '7, mutilation of the revenue stamp in opening the package is assured.

In forming the package it is not always necessary that the overlapping ends l and I2 of the wrapper should be secured to one another, especially when an outer wrapper of moisture proof material is used. The top of the package therefore may be torn off very easily. In fact, when tearing lines in the form of cuts are provided, and the ends Ill and I2 are not secured, the flexible material does not actually begin to tear until raised by the tab 20 a sufllcient distance to cause mutilation of the revenue stamp.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have illustrated a form of wrapper similar to that shown in Fig. 1, having a layer of transparent moisture proof material 26 applied thereto so as to form a laminated wrapper. As will appear from Fig. 10 the transparent material is of somewhat larger dimensions than the remainder of the wrapper. The transparent material preferably is secured only to the sheet 2 of the wrapper and does not adhere to the flexible material 4. The transparent material may be secured to the sheet 2 over the entire surface thereof, or may be secured by lines of adhesive material extending longitudinally or transversely of the sheet 2, or in both directions as indicated by the lines 28 and 30.

The application of a wrapper of the type illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 to the package contents may be eifected in the same manner as the wrapper illustrated in Fig. 1. However, the folding of the wrapper about the package contimes.

tents preferably is carried out as illustrated in Fig. 4, so that the end 32 of the transparent ma terial may be secured directly to the transparent material overlying the opposite end l2 of the st. 2. The sides of the sheet may then be folocu over the sides of the package in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. The projecting edges 34 of the transparent material may then be secured to those portions of the transparent material overlapped thereby in any suitable way to provide a package sealed so as to be moisture proof and retain the contents of the package fresh and clean at all The use of a laminated wrapper of this type enables the complete package to be formed in a single operation on standard machines such as those now used for applying the outer wrapper of transparent moisture-proof material to cigarette packages and the like at the present time.

Opening of the package produced by using a composite wrapper of the type shown in Figs. 10 and 11, may be effected in the same manner as when the transparent material is not employed. However, the provision of the tearing lines 22 in the transparent material is of advantage since material of this type ordinarily is tough and difficult to tear. On the other hand, if it is particularly desirous to prevent the possibility of an imperfect seal between the opposite ends of the layer of transparent material, the tearing lines may be omitted from the transparent material and provided only in the flexible material it, and, of course, they may be omitted altogether if desired.

Although I have illustrated and described the foregoing method of forming wrapped packages as used when employing wrappers of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the method is also applicable for use in forming wrapped packages wherein the wrapper is formed of a unitary sheet of material of the general shape of the wrappers of Figs. 1 and 10, and, of course, laminated or superimposed layers of wrapping material may be used in the same manner for forming wrapped packages in accordance with my invention.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14, I have illustrated an alternative form of package wrapper adapted for use in forming cigarette packages and embodying my invention. With this construction I use a sheet of material 2 which, like that of the wrapper illustrated in Fig. 1, is rectangular in shape. However, the flexible material 4 is applied lengthwise of the sheet and extends beyond the edge 36 thereof. This wrapper is adapted to be applied to the package contents in themanner in which wrappers are customarily applied in forming cigarette packages at the present .time, i. e. the wrapper is folded about the faces and sides of the package, and the lower edge 38 of the sheet 2 is folded over the bottom of the package. The edge 40 of the flexible material 4 is then folded over the top of the package as shown in Fig. 14, producing a wrapped package which is identical in appearance with those at present on the market. I prefer, however, to provide tearing lines 22 in the flexible material intersecting the edge 40 of the flexible material and located on either side of the center of the wrapper so as to be positioned adjacent the revenue stamp when the package is formed. Tearing of the flexible material in opening the package therefore insures mutilation of the revenue stamp.

The flexible material extends below the upper edge of the member 2 of the wrapper and is located on the inner face thereof when the wrapper is applied to the package contents so, that when using paper-metal foil material for the member 4, the metal-foil is exposed and the paper is adjacent the cigarettes. As shown in Fig. 14 the edge 36 of the sheet 2 extends to the top of the package. However, if preferred the upper edge 36 of the sheet may be positioned below the top of the package as indicated by dotted lines at 42 on Fig. 14. When so positioned, removal of the flexible material when the package is opened will expose a portion of the sides of the cigarettes, or other contents of the package, facilitating removal thereof. When the wrapper of Fig. 12 is applied so that the edge 36 is located at 42, the resulting package is substantially the same in appearance, and possesses the advantages of one form of package described in my co-pending application referred to above.

While the tearing lines 22 may be positioned as shown in Fig. 12 so as to intersect the edge 40 of the flexible material, they may if preferred be located wholly within the flexible material and adjacent the edge 36 of the sheet 2 as indlcated in Fig, 15. In the latter case the wrapper is applied so that the edge 36 is positioned below the top of the package and the lines 22 extend from the edge 36 upward toward the top of the package, with the upper ends thereof beneath the revenue stamp. Upon opening the package thus formed the flexible material tears along the edge of the revenue stamp to the upper end of the tearing line 22, mutilating the stamp. The tearing line then insures tearing of the flexible material downward below the top of the package so that a portion of the sides of the cigarettes adjacent the ends thereof is exposed to facilitate removal of the cigarettes or other package contents.

Fig. 16 illustrates a form of wrapper similar to that of Fig. 15 provided with a sheet 44 of relatively heavy paper or other material serving as the main portion of the wrapper. The edge 46 of the sheet 44 is formed with a cut-out portion 48 similar in form and function to the cut-out portion of wrappers shown and described in my co-pending application referred to above. A piece of flexible material 4 is secured to the sheet 44 and extends beyond the edge 46 thereof as in the forms of my invention shown in Figs. 12 and 15. I also prefer to provide tearing lines 22 in the flexible material so positioned as to be located adjacent the revenue stamp on the finished package. The method of applying the wrapper and the purpose and advantage of the tearing lines 22 are the same in this construction as in the construction shown in Fig. 15.

In Fig. 17 I have illustrated a form of wrapper similar to that shown in Fig. 15 but formed of a uniform sheet 50 of paper, or the like, adapted for use on packages wherein the presence of metalfoil is unnecessary or undesirable. The tearing lines 22 are located wholly within the wrapper and when the wrapper is applied to a package the tearing lines extend upwardly from a point on one face of the package below the top thereof, terminating at or near the top of the package as shown in Fig. 18. These tearing lines, like those in the wrappers of Figs. 15 and 16, cause the wrapper to tear downward below the top of the package when a portion thereof is removed in opening the package. The upper ends of the tearing lines may be positioned adjacent the sides of the revenue stamp on the finished package as shown in Fig. 18, or may be partially covered by the stamp as shown by the tearing lines in Fig. 7. This type of wrapper is particularly adapted for use on cigarette or other packages which do not need or desire to give the appear- 5 ance of having an inner paper-metal foil wrapper about the package contents.

In Figs. 19, 20 and 21, I have illustrated a further alternative form of wrapper in which the upper edge of the sheet of material is angular in form so that the central portion of the wrapper is of greater width than the marginal portions thereof. In the wrapper shown in Fig. 19, the main portion 2 is of rectangular shape and the flexible material 52 extends beyond the edge 36 15 of the sheet. The member 52 is formed with a projecting edge 54 which is angular and extends beyond a line passing through the ends of the adjacent sides of the wrapper. On the other hand the wrapper shown in Fig. 20 is formed of a 20 uniform sheet 56 of paper or other material having an angular upper edge 58.

Wrappers of the types shown in Figs. 19 and '20 may be applied to the package contents by folding the same about the faces and sides thereof and folding the angular edge 54 or 58, over the top of the package contents. When so folded the angular edge forms a projecting tab as shown at 60 in Fig. 21. As in each of the previous forms of my invention, tearing lines 22 are located on either side of the center of that portion of the wrapper to which a revenue stamp is applied in forming the package. The tearing lines are thus located on either side of the center of the edge 54 or 53in the angular portion of the wrapper. In the present instance the tearing lines, when in the form of cuts in the material, also serve to form the projecting portions 62 on either side of the revenue stamp, which are free to be grasped in tearing open the upper corner of the package.

In Figs. 22, 23 and 24, I have illustrated further embodiments of my invention possessing certain features of the wrapper illustrated in Fig. 1, together with the features and advantages of the wrappers illustrated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21. The wrapper, shown in Fig. 22, is formed with a sheet 2, similar to that used in the form of wrapper shown in Fig. 1. A piece of flexible material 64 extends beyond the end 6 of the sheet and is 50 adapted to be folded over the top of the package contents. However, the end 66 of the flexible material is angular, as in the form of wrapper shown in Fig. 19, and when folded over the top of the package in the manner illustrated in Fig. 24, a projection portion 68 is formed and triangular tabs 10 are provided at the top of the package. Tearing lines 22 may be formed in the 7 end 66 ef-the flexible material as shown and these serve to render opening of the package especially easy.

The wrapper, shown in Fig. 23, is similar to that of Fig. 22 in form, but is made of a uniform sheet of material 12 such as paper or the like. The method of applying the wrapper and the form of the finished package, in each case, is substantially the same. However, in the latter case the package does not have metal foil or other similar flexible materials extending over the top of the package contents.

While the wrappers shown in the latter group of figures may be applied to the package contents with the end l2 of the member 2 or 12 flush with the top of the package, I may position the end I2 a short distance below the package top and fold 15 the wrapper about the package contents in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The projecting portion 68 then extends downward over the opposite end l2 of the wrapper. On opening the package by tearing away the flexible material, or the portion of the wrapper at the top and corner of the package, the sides of the cigarettes, as well as the ends thereof, are exposed so that the cigarettes may be easily removed, as in the form of my invention shown in Fig. '7.

The wrapper of Figs. 22 and 23 may in the alternative be applied to the package contents by positioning the end I2 of the wrapper on the top of the package and folding the wrapper about one face, the bottom and the opposite face of the cigarettes, bringing the end 66 thereof into overlapping relation with the end l2 on the top of the package. The projecting angular portion 68 of the wrapper may, if desired, project beyond the edge of the top of the package so that the portions 62 thereof tend to extend outward from the face of the package. These portions then may be easily grasped for opening the package.

Each of the forms of wrapper shown in Figs. 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22 and 23, may be formed integral with a sheet of transparent, moistureproof material in the manner and for the purpose described in connection with the form of my invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11. This arrangement permits both the wrapper and the transparent material to be applied to the package contents in a single operation. The cost and time involved in applying the wrapper to the package contents to form a finished article is therefore materially reduced.

In each of the forms of my invention described above, the wrapper is provided with tearing lines, which, as indicated, may be cuts, perforations, scoring, or the like. However, it is not essential that such tearing lines be used in order to obtain.--

many of the advantages of my invention-i shown in Figs. 17, 20 and 23, certain features of my invention may be attained by the use of wrappers formed of a uniform sheet of material, as distinguished from that form thereof wherein a piece of flexible material is carried by the main portion of the wrapper such as the sheet 2. On the other hand the provision of the flexible material, in wrappers of the types described herein, has the characteristic advantage that packages formed therefrom possess the attractive appearance of packages now on the market while reducing the costs of the wrapping material considerably below that of two independent wrappers such as are now in common use.

I appreciate that the flexible material used may be material other than the paper-metal foil material referred to herein and in some instances it may be desired to employ for this element of the wrapper, light paper printed on one side to give a metallic appearance. I have, therefore, used the expression metallic surface in the claims to refer to either the metal foil of papermetal foil material, the printed surface of paper, or other decorated surface of flexible material carried by the main portion of the wrapper.

The above described forms of my invention do not include all possible forms and arrangements of the wrappers and packages embodying my invention, or all possible methods of producing wrapped packages in accordance therewith. It should therefore be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative of the numerous variations possible in the practice of my invention and is not intended to limit the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wrapper for use in forming wrapped packages comprising a sheet of material which is opaque and sufliciently stiff to retain the shape of the package into which it is formed when a portion of the contents thereof is removed, and having a piece of relatively more flexible material of smaller area than said sheet carried thereby and extending beyond an edge thereof, said flexible material being positioned to be folded over the top of the package contents to form the package top.

2. A wrapper for use in forming wrapped packages comprising a sheet of material which is opaque and sufficiently stiff to retain the shape of the package into which it is formed when a portion of the contents thereof is removed, and having a piece of relatively more flexible material of smaller area than said sheet presenting an inner paper surface and an outer metallic surface secured to the inner face of the wrapper and extending beyond an edge thereof, said flexible material being positioned to be folded over the top of the package contents to form the package top.

3. A wrapper for use in forming packages comprising an elongated sheet of material which is opaque and sufliciently stiff to retain the shape of the package into which it is formed when a portion of the contents of the package is removed, and having a piece of relatively more flexible material carried thereby and extending beyond one end of the sheet and positioned to be folded over the top of the package contents to form the package top.

4. A wrapper for use in forming packages comprising a sheetof materialwhich is opaque and Suffic'ieiitIy'stiif to; retain the shape of the packg'into which it is formed when a portion of the contents thereof is removed, and having a piece of relatively more flexible material carried thereby and extendingbeyond an edge of the sheet,

said flexible material being positioned to be folded over the top of the package contents to form the package top and having tearing lines formed thereon to facilitate opening of the package.

5. A wrapper for use in forming packages com prising a sheet of material which is opaque and sufliciently stiff to retain the shape of the package into which it is formed when a portion of the contents thereof is removed and having a piece of relatively more flexible material of smaller area than said sheet carried thereby and extending beyond an edge thereof, said sheet having transparent moisture-proof material secured to that face thereof which is located on the outside of the package in forming the same and positioned to present an overlapping edge adapted, upon application of the wrapper to the package contents, to be brought into overlapping relation with another portion of said transparent material so as to completely envelop said sheet and flexible material within the same.

6. A wrapped package having a sheet of material of sufficient stiffness to retain the shape of the package when a portion of the contents thereof is removed, folded about the package contents to form the sides thereof and having a piece of relatively more flexible material presenting an .inner paper surface and an outer metallic surface secured to the inner face of the sheet and folded over the top of the package contents to form the top of the package.

aoeaaoe 7 package and spaced a short distance from the top of the package, said sheet being folded over said face, the bottom and the opposite face of the package with the flexible material extending over the top of the package contents and having the end of the sheet overlapping the same.

GERALD K. GEERLINGS. 

